CLEMSON — The NFL draft begins April 24, and seven former Clemson football players hope to hear their names called or to receive a call from one of 32 teams.
Still, not every one of them will be drafted in the seven-round cycle. Some may go as high as the third round; others may go undrafted and sign free-agent contracts with NFL teams or other professional leagues.
Here’s a breakdown of where the latest mock drafts have former Clemson players getting selected with the draft one day away.
Barrett Carter NFL draft projection
Carter is Clemson’s top NFL prospect for 2025. He finished his college career with 233 tackles, including 12.5 sacks, 24 pass deflections, three interceptions and two forced fumbles in 52 games, 40 of them starts. He ran 4.64 seconds in the 40-yard dash at Clemson’s pro day.
Jake Briningstool NFL draft projection
Briningstool, 6-foot-6, is Clemson’s all-time leader in career receptions by a tight end (127) and is second in program history in receiving touchdowns and receiving yards by a tight end. He ran 4.75 seconds in the 40-yard dash, which ranked in the top 10 of tight ends, and is viable in run and pass blocking.
RJ Mickens NFL draft projection
The 6-foot defensive back is the son of a former NFL player, Ray Mickens Sr., who was a third-round pick in the 1996 NFL Draft by the New York Jets. In his final season with Clemson, he logged 75 tackles, nine pass deflections and two interceptions. He also ran 4.49 seconds in the 40-yard dash at the NFL combine.
Phil Mafah NFL draft projection
Mafah is a physical running back whose 6-0, 239-pound frame allows him to punish defenders in open space. He eclipsed 1,000 rushing yards for the first time in his career in 2024 and added eight touchdowns. He did not work out at the NFL combine and Clemson’s Pro Day as he recovered from a shoulder surgery, but he did have a private individual workout in April in front of teams.
Marcus Tate NFL draft projection
According to Pro Football Focus, Tate allowed six sacks and committed seven penalties in his four-year Tigers career. Injuries are a concern for the 6-5, 332-pound offensive guard, who battled ailments in each of the past three seasons.
Payton Page NFL draft projection
The 6-3, 300-pound defensive tackle showed flashes as a first-year starter last season, recording 32 tackles, including 2.5 for loss, two pass deflections and one interception. A concern is his lack of production, becoming a starter for Clemson in his final year, and he is not featured in any of the latest mock drafts.
Aidan Swanson NFL draft projection
Swanson averaged 42.2 punting yards and has pinned 67 punts inside the 20-yard line in his Clemson career. At least one punter has been selected in the past seven drafts, but Swanson is not expected to join this exclusive club.
Derrian Carter covers Clemson athletics for The Greenville News and the USA TODAY Network. Email him at dcarter@gannett.com and follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter, @DerrianCarter00
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